"This is going to stick with me for a while" - INEOS youngster meltdown at World Championships as he suffers nightmare mechanical during time trial
Cycling
Cameron Rogers had a moment to forget during the U23 men's time trial at the World Championships on Monday, suffering a nightmare mechanical that began with a dropped chain but ultimately wreaked havoc on his time trial.
The INEOS development rider, representing Australia at the championships, admitted afterwards that he almost called it quits after a heat-of-the-moment outburst as the tricky mechanical proved difficult to fix.
As he almost crashed in the middle of the effort, he immediately let out his frustrations as the mechanical took some time to fix with both rider and mechanic urgently trying to adjust the chain. He tried to set off again but then had to stop again.
F*****g piece of s**t," he said during the tense moment. "Are you f*****g kidding me?"
Incroyable scène sur le contre-la-montre U23 des Mondiaux sur route : très bien parti, Cameron Rogers (AUS) est victime d'un saut de chaîne. Son mécanicien n'arrive pas à résoudre le problème et ça dure (très) longtemps...#LesRP pic.twitter.com/b4H1s8SzMk
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) September 21, 2026
Rogers finishes in 39th after mechanical
Afterwards, after finishing in 39th place as a result of the time lost, Rogers admitted that the mechanical is nobody's fault and that equipment failures happened.
He said that he considered not finishing the effort but was motivated by his family and friends to continue as he admitted that the moment will stick with him.
“I was feeling really good and riding at a good pace. It had been a big goal for a while, but s**t happens in this sport. It’s nobody’s fault; the bike broke down when it shouldn’t have," he told media afterwards.
Cameron Rogers during the time trial
Shifter issue leaves rider with hard gear for final climb
"This is going to stick with me for a while. In hindsight, that wasn't the best decision. I had nothing left for the last two climbs, so I had to shift gears after all.
"I thought about quitting, but then I thought of my family and friends who were watching. This is disappointing."
The 21-year-old joined Netcompany INEOS Racing Academy in 2026 after two years with Lidl-Trek Future Racing and has previously represented Australia as a junior rider at the 2022 World Championships - taking a 14th place finish in the time trial on that occasion.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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